Examining the relationship between stress and lack of social support in mothers of children with autism
Abstract
A selective, critical literature revieW is presented on the relationship betWeen stress and the paucity of social supports for mothers of children With autism. The published literature revieWed reveals an association betWeen challenging child characteristics and a mother's inclination to seek social support, With mothers under greater stress being more prone to pursue social support. For mothers of children With autism, informal support appeared to be a more effective stress-buffer than formal support. The cumulative results of several studies illustrated that parents Who received support related better emotionally to their children. Furthermore, loW levels of social support Were the most poWerful predictors of depression and anxiety in mothers.
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Mothers of children with ASD experience more psychological distress.
“and thereby, experience more psychological distress (Boyd, 2002; Hastings et al., 2005)”
From Interventions that target improvements in mental health for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders: A narrative review (2017) · cites this paper as Boyd, 2002
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“…navigating special education, navigating health care, financial strains) and weak informal social supports also relate to substantial parenting stress and burden for families (Boyd, 2002; Kuhn et al., 2018; Nesbitt, 2000; Sharpe & Baker, 2007; L. E. Smith et al., 2012; Tobing & Glenwick, 2007).”
- Authors
- Boyd, B. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- Boyd, Brian A.
- ORCID
- Boyd, Brian A.
- Venue
- Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2002-11
- Volume
- 17
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 208-215
- ISSN
- 0887-1566 (ISSN-L)
- 1088-3576
- 1538-4829
- OpenAlex
- W2091392558
- Cited by
- 568
- References
- 34
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 27 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 56 · 2015: 34 · 2014: 49 · 2013: 35 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 2.21
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family Caregiving in Mental Illness
- Keywords
- maternal stress, social support, mothers of autistic children, autism spectrum disorder, informal support, formal support, stress buffering, maternal depression, maternal anxiety
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